The University College of the Cayman Islands has today announced a once in a lifetime opportunity for Caymanian students to benefit from a completely free, stateside education, with accommodation and support included, at one of America’s leading vocational and technical colleges, the New England Institute of Technology (NEIT).

The University College of the Cayman Islands currently offers exceptional certificate and degree programs in computer science and the building trades. However, for students who want to pursue advanced studies and degree programs in the high-demand sectors of Cyber Security and Network Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology, and Construction Management, they must travel abroad. 

For many, this is cost prohibitive even with the generous Cayman Islands’ Government scholarship, due to cost-of-living expenses being too high. For others, the young person is simply not ready to venture into independent, unsupported living in another country, at that stage in their lives.

To overcome these barriers to education, UCCI has formed a unique partnership with NEIT to offer an extension of the UCCI campus in Rhode Island, USA, so that students can complete world-class, higher-level study in these sectors whilst still being supported by the UCCI family. 

NEIT has committed to a generous package which includes on-campus accommodation for all Caymanian students and subsidized living expenses. The value of this package is up to $10,000 USD (per year), which will be awarded in addition to the Cayman Islands’ Government scholarship. NEIT will also offer a fully integrated support package to every Caymanian student to ensure they are happy, heathy and supported whilst away from home. 

Dr. Robert W. Robertson, President, and CEO of the University College of the Cayman Islands, commented, “This unique partnership launches this month ready for a fall 2023 enrolment and UCCI and New England Institute of Technology are offering students the opportunity to complete their career education in the amazing Rhode Island. Only two hours North of New York, Rhode Island is a safe suburban township that will offer our students the opportunity to get amazing life experiences and build a stateside network of friends, colleagues, and peers.

“The only criteria is that students must be Caymanian and qualify for a Government scholarship. NEIT will kindly top-up this scholarship with an institutional award of up to $10,000 per student, to ensure the student can succeed. For parents that are worried about their child being away from home, the NEIT institutional award will cover on-campus accommodation and support staff on campus who will ensure the health and wellbeing of the students. It really is a chance to get a world-class education for completely free. We implore students to grab this opportunity with both hands.”

The New England Institute of Technology (NEIT) is a private, non-profit technical college located in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, United States. NEIT offers a wide range of programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree levels. The programs span various fields such as automotive technology, construction management, cybersecurity, digital media production, engineering, health sciences, information technology, nursing, and many more. NEIT places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and practical skills. The college provides students with access to modern facilities, labs, and equipment to gain real-world experience in their chosen fields. This approach aims to prepare students for the demands of the workforce.

Representing NEIT’s President Richard Gouse and Board of Trustees, Phillip Kydd, Trustee of New England Institute of Technology, commented, “We are committed to working with UCCI and the Caymanian community to enhance the career-prospects of young Caymanian students and give them the opportunity to be exposed to the latest technology, the latest advancements in their field of study and to get a life experience unlike any other. We want to overcome each and every barrier to education that these students face and have implemented a package that we believe is one that cannot be missed. We are recruiting students now for a fall 2023 start and will be expanding this even further for fall 2024. We look forward to welcoming the Caymanian community to NEIT.”

Beginning in the Fall of 2023, UCCI students will be eligible to apply to any of NEIT’s degree programs. Through recently signed articulation agreements, qualified UCCI students wishing to transfer to NEIT will have recognized advanced standing in NEIT’s cybersecurity, construction management, and electrical technology programs. 

To register interest, students should visit https://www.ucci.edu.ky/neit and register their interest in a fall 2023 start. Students will then be contacted to speak to staff at NEIT and attend either a virtual or in-person open day.